PokerStars to Launch in India?

According to the chief executive of Amaya, Rafi Ashkenazi, the company’s PokerStars brand hopes to launch in India next year.

Ashkenazi told Igamingbusiness.com, that the Indian market could be worth as much as $150 million (€141.5 million) in revenue each year and could help recover losses in Australia. Amaya has said that if current proposed amendments to the online gambling law are passed in Australia, blocking Australian online poker players from their service is "likely".

However, contrary what is said, PokerStars already accepts Indian players and even hired its first Indian Team PokerStars Pro, Aditya Agarwal, earlier this year. PokerStars would require a local partner in the county to officially launch, and discussions with potential partners are already underway. The online poker giant says it hopes to launch officially in India by the first or second quarter of 2017.

According to The Economic States, three of India’s states recognize poker as a game of skill, but in most other states players can continue to play because there are no clear laws about the game.